UWI sets up 2024 Disaster Recovery Support Team

The UWI Regional Headquarters, Jamaica W.I. Wednesday, July 10, 2024—The University of the West Indies (The UWI) has set up a 2024 Disaster Recovery Support Team to assist recovery efforts in the region in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl. Vice-Chancellor of The UWI, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles has reached out to the Governments of countries impacted by the storm, to commit the support of the regional University. This assurance comes at a critical time, as the 2024 hurricane season has just begun and is predicted to be a very active one.

“The intensity of Hurricane Beryl this early in the season is a wake-up call for us to all be aware of the tremendous damage caused by these storms and the significant dislocation and financial and psychological impact that citizens suffer from the loss of loved ones and property,” said Vice-Chancellor Beckles. He added, “It’s our unwavering duty to serve our Caribbean Community in times of need.”

Under the leadership of Dr Francis Severin, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the Global Campus, the University will work closely with the Governments to determine their needs so that resources can be mobilised across The UWI system. The Support Team will also collaborate with CDEMA to identify other areas in which The UWI can assist Caribbean countries post-disasters. This initiative reflects the assistance that The UWI has provided to Governments in the region in the aftermath of natural disasters in previous years.

Aftermath of Hurricane Beryl on Union Island, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Credits: (c) IOM 2024/ J Crichlow-Augustine

About The University of the West Indies

The UWI has been and continues to be a pivotal force in every aspect of Caribbean development, residing at the center of all efforts to improve the well-being of people across the region for over 75 years. From a university college of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948, The UWI is today an internationally respected, global university with nearly 50,000 students and five campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda and its Global Campus, and global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe.

The UWI offers over 1000 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Sport. As the Caribbean’s leading university, it possesses the largest pool of Caribbean intellect and expertise committed to confronting the critical issues of our region and the wider world.

The UWI has been consistently ranked among the best in the world by the most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education (THE). Since The UWI’s 2018 debut in THE’s rankings, it has performed well in multiple schemes—among them including World University Rankings, Golden Age University Rankings (between 50 and 80 years old), Latin America Rankings, and the Impact Rankings for its response to the world’s biggest concerns, outlined in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Good Health and Well-being; Gender Equality and Climate Action.

Learn more at www.uwi.edu.